In the early hours of Saturday morning, gunfire was directed at the Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School, a Jewish girls’ school in the North End of Toronto. The incident occurred around 4 a.m., coinciding with the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, deeply unsettled the local community. Toronto police were alerted to the scene following reports that the front window of the school had been shattered by gunfire.
Fortunately, the building was empty then, and no injuries were reported. Despite the absence of physical harm, the attack has raised significant concerns within the Jewish community, which has seen a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents.
Inspector Paul Krawczyk of the Toronto Police Service expressed his empathy toward the community, noting the disturbing nature of the attack, especially given its timing. “This is deeply unsettling for the Jewish community, especially today on such a significant day,” Krawczyk said. As of now, no suspects have been identified, and the police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
This incident marks the second time in seven months that Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School has been targeted, fueling fears of escalating antisemitic violence in the city. Last year, a similar attack took place, which remains unsolved, adding to the community’s anxiety about ongoing threats.
The response from political and community leaders has been swift. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow voiced her support for the Jewish community and condemned the attack. “This is the second time the school has been targeted by this disgusting hate. I reiterate that the students of Bais Chaya Mushka have the right to learn, and the teachers have a right to teach, in safety and without fear of antisemitic attacks.” she stated.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford took a strong stance on the issue, calling for tougher penalties for those responsible for hate-fueled violence. “These people need to be caught, they need to be thrown in jail, and we need mandatory sentences that will deter future attacks,” Ford emphasized. He further marked the significance of Yom Kippur in a statement, extending his best wishes to Ontario’s Jewish community and acknowledging the challenges they have faced over the past year.
Federal leaders also weighed in on the incident. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre denounced the attack, linking it to a broader rise in hate crimes across Canada. “This is yet another shameful and terrifyingly common antisemitic attack in Canada in 2024,” Poilievre tweeted. He pledged to take stronger measures against such crimes, promising to “secure our borders, lock up criminals, and bring home safety for all.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his alarm over the shooting, stating, “Antisemitism is a disgusting and dangerous form of hate — and we won’t let it stand.”.
The attack on Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School is part of a broader pattern of antisemitic violence that has left many Jewish families in Toronto feeling vulnerable. Over the past year, there has been a marked increase in hate crimes targeting the Jewish community, with reports of vandalism, threats, and physical attacks becoming alarmingly frequent. A 2024 report indicated a 251% rise in hate crimes over the past nine years, prompting renewed calls for more proactive measures to ensure the safety of Jewish institutions.
For now, the school remains a crime scene, with students and staff anxiously awaiting a return to normalcy. As Yom Kippur, a day of reflection and atonement, draws to a close, many in the Jewish community are left to reflect on the challenges they continue to face and their hope for a safer future.